Mike Iupati | Guard

3/10/2015: Signed a five-year, $40 million contract. The deal contains $22.5 million guaranteed, including a $6 million signing bonus and an initial roster bonus of $4 million. Another $5 million is available through incentives. 2015: $1.5 million, 2016: $4.5 million, 2017: $8 million, 2018-2019: $7.75 million (+ $250,000 roster bonus), 2020: Free Agent

Latest News

Recent News

Cardinals signed OG Mike Iupati, formerly of the 49ers, to a five-year, $40 million contract.

The deal is worth "up to" $41 million, and includes $22.5 million guaranteed. It's a coup for the Cardinals, who have long had issues at guard, and struggled to clear anything resembling lanes in the running game. Iupati is one of the league's premier run blockers. He played left guard in San Francisco, and should do the same in Arizona. That means Jonathan Cooper will be shifted to the right side, center or possibly even bench. Mar 10 - 4:23 PM

It would be a coup for the Cardinals, as Iupati is one of the league's very best guards, and the Cards have had an atrocious run-blocking line for years. Iupati is Rotoworld's top-rated interior lineman on the open market. He's also drawn interest from the Jets, Bills, 49ers, Vikings and Raiders. He's reportedly seeking $8.5 million per year, and if interest is as robust as the rumors suggest it is, he should get it. Mar 9 - 6:39 PM

The New York Daily News reports the Jets are making an "aggressive push" to sign free agent OG Mike Iupati.

Per the San Francisco Chronicle, the Raiders are also "hot after" Iupati. Signing Iupati would give the Jets a left side of LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson, LG Iupati, and C Nick Mangold on new OC Chan Gailey's offensive line. The Jets are likely to have suspect quarterback play in 2015, so running the football should be their calling card. Iupati is at his best when run blocking. Mar 9 - 12:58 PM

The Raiders, 49ers, Jets, and Bills are reportedly in pursuit of free agent OG Mike Iupati.

It's interesting that the Redskins are not mentioned among Iupati's potential suitors. The Chargers have dropped out after agreeing to terms with Orlando Franklin. CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora writes that he believes Iupati will not re-sign with San Francisco. The dots connect Iupati nicely to Buffalo, where OC Greg Roman knows him and the Bills need offensive line help. Mar 8 - 11:37 PM

Depth Charts

Carson Palmer has agreed to restructure his contract, saving the Cardinals $7.1 million in cap space.

He converted a $9.5 million roster bonus into a "signing" bonus, which will be prorated over the rest of his deal. Recovering from his second career ACL tear, 35-year-old Palmer is signed through 2017. The Cardinals needed the room during a busy free agency period wherein they've landed Corey Peters, LaMarr Woodley, Mike Iupati, A.Q. Shipley, and Cory Redding, among others.

Coach Bruce Arians said the Cardinals would "like to have a bigger back."

The Cardinals asked Andre Ellington to be their workhorse last season, a role his 199-pound frame was ill-equipped to handle. His yards per carry dropped off a cliff with a heavier workload, which strongly suggests Ellington is more suited for a change of pace role. The Cardinals have shown interest in Adrian Peterson but it's more likely they address running back in the draft.

The hope is he'll be ready for OTAs, and he'll most certainly be back before 2015 training camp. 25-year-old Brown spent 2014 as Arizona's No. 4 receiver, securing 22 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns. If Larry Fitzgerald moves on, Brown would become the favorite for third receiver duties in 2015.

Niklas suffered his second high-ankle sprain of the season in Week 11 and was sent to I.R. The 52nd pick in May's draft caught three passes for 38 yards on four targets as a rookie. He should be ready in plenty of time for training camp.